U.S. streamer Hulu has commissioned Aircraft Pictures to produce a live-action TV series based on the Holly Hobbie brand.
Set to premiere in fall 2018 on Hulu, the scripted series will later head to linear via Family Channel in Canada and Universal Kids in the U.S.
The show, produced by Aircraft in association with American Greetings Entertainment, is a contemporary take on the story of the 13 year-old singer/songwriter Holly Hobbie, who plans on saving the world someday but is happy to start in her own small town.
The brand was first introduced by the American Greetings card company in 1967 and has generated more than USD $1 billion in worldwide licensed product sales, according to a press release.
Production is scheduled to begin in Toronto next month on 10 half-hour episodes, with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund. Sarah Glinski (Degrassi: Next Class, Degrassi: The Next Generation) will serve as showrunner. Joining her in the writers’ room are Courtney Jane Walker (Degrassi: The Next Class) and Cole Bastedo (The Next Step).
Producers on the series are Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures. Executive producer are Karen Vermeulen, Ryan Wiesbrock and Sean Gorman of American Greetings Entertainment and Matthew Wexler of Wexworks Media, as well as Glinski.
Other recent projects from Aircraft include the digital series Terrific Women (CBC) and the Oscar-nominated animated feature The Breadwinner. In February, Aircraft revealed it is in development on its next animated project, Daughter of Bells. The feature-length animation is developed and produced by Aircraft and Toronto’s Wasabi Entertainment.